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Hamilton County: Casavant says program being ‘railroaded’ through

By: Matt Wilson
(Contact)

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Hamilton County Commission -- Sept. 17, 2008

Hamilton County Commissioner Curtis Adams’ plan to schedule a vote in December on a property tax freeze for seniors and a possible match to a state tax relief program met resistance Wednesday from fellow commissioner Richard Casavant.

“This whole thing is being railroaded, Commissioner Adams,” Dr. Casavant said. “This goes to the heart of commission governance.”

Mr. Adams said he simply believed the commission needs to take action. He sent a memorandum to commissioners setting a date of Dec. 17 for a vote.

“We’ve been dragging around for a year on this thing,” he said.

“You wouldn’t recommend we just sit on this and forget it, would you?” Mr. Adams asked Dr. Casavant.

“Yes, I would,” Dr. Casavant replied.

Dr. Casavant has been an outspoken opponent of the tax freeze and the tax relief programs, calling them income redistribution.

The Tennessee General Assembly last year approved a constitutional amendment that allows local governments to freeze property tax amounts for seniors 65 or older who make $32,890 or less in 2008. The freeze would mean seniors would not have to pay more than they now pay on their property tax bills, even if tax rates increase.

But due to the administrative complexities of a freeze, commissioners are considering a 50 percent match to a state property tax-relief program for seniors 65 or older who make $24,790 or less per year. That program provides money back to seniors who qualify.

Dr. Casavant’s gripe with Mr. Adams’ plan stemmed from the fact that it was announced in a memorandum from Mr. Adams rather than coming from the commission chairman.

Chairman Jim Coppinger said he had not seen the memo until Tuesday afternoon. He asked Mr. Adams to meet with the commission’s Finance Committee to determine whether the dates he had suggested should be when the vote takes place.

“The timeline wasn’t as important as it is to get it right,” Mr. Coppinger said.

Dr. Casavant also took issue with the fact that two public hearings mentioned in Mr. Adams’ memo, scheduled for 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Dec. 11, would come after resolutions on the freeze and the relief match would be on the commission agendas.

“That, pretty much, is very cavalier toward the public,” Dr. Casavant said.

In his memo, Mr. Adams said “each commissioner will have ample time to schedule a meeting for public input in their districts” if the vote is Dec. 17.

Commissioner Bill Hullander announced he would be holding a meeting about the tax plans in his district at the Highway 58 Volunteer Training Center at 6 p.m. on Sept. 25.

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